Cluster Sites

Raíces Cluster Communities

To help achieve the greatest impact, Raíces operates in not just one community, but in clusters of communities. Latino representatives from each state helped choose cluster sites based on specific criteria such as a cluster's distance from a city or urban area, precentage of Latinos/as compared to state average, interest of local partners to work on capacity building, or presence of an active Latino community with sufficient infrastructure.

Four sites are currently part of the Raíces project:

Magic Valley Cluster - Burley, Heyburn, Jerome and Rupert in Idaho

Marshalltown Cluster - Marshalltown, Tama, Toledo and Ackley in Iowa

Willmar Cluster - Pennock and Willmar in Minnesota

Columbia River Gorge Cluster - Hood River, The Dalles, Chenoweth, Mosier and Odell in Oregon 

Raíces Cluster Site Activities

At each cluster site, Raíces staff and volunteers will work with rural Latino communities to support:

• Relationship Building:  Build relationships with communities and work together to identify existing strengths, assets and challenges;

• Community Organizing and Encuentros:  Work with rural Latino families and communities using the Latin American model of encuentros, or community gatherings, in which community is celebrated, issues are identified, and communities learn from each other and plan for action;

• Fellowship/Leadership Program:  Strengthen rural Latino leadership through family-centered and multigenerational programs;

• Community Projects Fund:  Coordinate a community grants fund to support work at the local level and address issues identified by the community;

• Mercado de Recursos:  People skilled in many areas will be available to provide technical assistance and training to communities and individuals.

• Regional Leadership Concilio:  Regional Latino leadership council to inform and direct the work of the project and support sustainability after the project’s initial four years.